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I was absolutely psyched to have an opportunity to write an article for the Concordian this month, covering a local celebrity and his new rock band, Push.

ABC’s Channel 7 news Bay Area anchor Dan Ashley has found a fresh new niche as the front man for Contra Costa’s newest rock band, Push.

It seems the charisma and confidence necessary for quality broadcasting carries over well into the realm of rock and roll. The members of the new band, Push, met at a recent local charity golf tournament, and discovered a shared passion for classic rock bands like the Rolling Stones, Rush, and Pink Floyd. “We seemed to click right away,” said Ashley at the band’s debut kickoff party at his home in Walnut Creek on April 2nd.

In their short time together, Push has already conquered an impressive array of hits from the 60’s to the 90’s, and balances their covers well with a lot of creative and engaging original titles. The disarming camaraderie of the five members of the band is contagious as they settle smoothly into each tune, drawing the crowd in with great showmanship and fervor.

Their three hour set covered a broad host of classics like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” and Rolling Stone’s “Under My Thumb” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” Original song titles include “The Hard Way,” “Go Away,” “Love for My Enemy,” and the album’s title track “American Too.”

The same magnetism that draws nightly news viewers to Dan Ashley is present in his new group, with an added sense of fun and humor that draws people in. At the debut, he got his guests laughing with, “You know in my line of work, I’ll do anything to get in front of a large group of people who can’t change the channel!”

There is no denying that Push’s talent is a crowd pleaser- each catchy beat drew the gathering to dancing and cheering. “The music is appealing for its solid balance between simplicity and sophistication,” said Bill Bentley, producer of Push’s upcoming album “American Too,” which is set to be complete sometime in September. “Their professionalism is obvious.”

Of Dan Ashley’s surprising branch out to singing, his voice coach Loree Capper noted how that very professionalism and charisma is a big part of his success in the band. “He worked so hard for six months,” she said. “He was so determined- even being nervous, he always pushed ahead.”

Ironically, pushing ahead is a sure theme for this band. With such a great lineup of musicians and with the band’s intrinsic ability, Push is certainly destined for popularity.